System Worth Saving - Task Force Members

Veterans Benefits Center Committee

National Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation CommissionThe American Legion

Ralph Bozella is a 38-year member of The American Legion. He is a retired educator who advocates for veterans. Ralph has served The American Legion in leadership capacity at the post, district, department and national levels, to include post commander, department commander and is current National Executive Committeeman for the Department of Colorado, and a member of the National Legislative Council. He was appointed by two governors and is on his third term as a member of the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs where he has served as chairman for six years. He is the current President for the United Veterans Committee of Colorado, a coalition of 52 Veteran Service Organizations that advocate for Colorado veterans. He has also served as Chairman of the first Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home Commission.

Vice-ChairmanPast National CommanderNational Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation CommissionThe American Legion

Ronald F. Conley served in the United States Air Force from 1963 to 1966. He was an Air Policeman at Lockborne Air Force Base in Columbus Ohio, Anderson Air Force Base in Guam and he served in the Strategic Air Command.
Ron has been a member of The Pennsylvania American Legion since 1967 when he joined Castle Shannon Post 490 in Castle Shannon, PA. He founded Scott Township Post 290 in 1972 and is currently a member there where he served as Post Commander for 4 years and Post Adjutant for 22 years. He served as District Commander in 1980-1982. On the County level, he served as Commander in 1979-1980.

Paul A. Morin of Chicopee, Massachusetts was elected National Commander of the 2.7 million-member American Legion on August 31, 2006 in Salt Lake City, Utah during the 88th National Convention of the nation's largest veteran's organization.
Morin is a Vietnam veteran of the U.S Army and an active member of the Aldenville American Legion Post 337. He has served as Department Commander and as a member of national commissions including Children and Youth Foreign Relations, Public Relations and Convention. He chaired the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, as well as the Legislative and Employment Commissions and served on the Legislative Council and Commission. He is a member of ANAVICUS and the Past Department Commanders Club.

National Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation CommissionThe American Legion

Thomas Mullon has been a member of the System Worth Saving Task Force since the committee's inception.
Mr. Mullon is a retired Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Director VAMC (Minneapolis, MN) as well as a former VA Regional Medical Director with over 40 years experience in the VA Health Care System and with State Veterans Homes Programs.

National Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation CommissionThe American Legion

Ms. Vickie. D.S. Dikes is the commander of the largest American Legion Post in the state of Georgia, Samuel G. Cooke, American Legion Post 267, Inc., Columbus, GA.
Ms. Dikes is a native of Thomaston, Georgia. She served in the United States Army from September 1976 to February 2004; rising from Private to Command Sergeant Major and has served in a variety of NCO leadership positions and assignments in the Adjutant General Corps. She is a graduate of numerous educational courses to include the United States Army Sergeant Major Academy Class 51. She holds an Associate of Arts degree in Applied Science from Excelsior University, Albany, New York and a Bachelors Degree in Human Resources from American Intercontinental University. Ms Dikes joined Samuel G. Cooke American Legion Post 267 in 1995.

National Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation CommissionThe American Legion

Bob Wallace was born and raised in Seattle, Washington; He is married with two daughters and 4 grandchildren; all of which are members of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and The Sons of The American Legion.
Bob retired from the U.S. Coast Guard at the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer (24 years of service) and he received his Associates Degree from New York University.
Bob has served in a variety of roles within The American Legion, to include: National Executive Committeemen, Alternative National Executive for (4 years), National VA&R Region and Vice Chairman (3 years). A member of the National Commander Representative to the National Security Commission, Task Force Member of National Headquarters System Worth Savings Program.

Daniel J. Seehafer is a native of Merrill, WI. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Concordia University, Mequon, WI and a Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN.
Daniel was commissioned as a Naval Officer in March of 1995, and enrolled in the Navy Chaplaincy program. His service time as a chaplain candidate in the Navy enabled him to spend time not only with the Navy personnel (San Diego, CA, Newport, RI, Everett, WA, USS Paul F. Foster), but also with the Marine Corps (Camp Pendleton, CA). He will always cherish the time spent in uniform.

Roscoe Butler was appointed Deputy Director of The American Legion's Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation (VA&R) Division in June, 2014. He is responsible for overseeing three national field service representatives and two assistant directors that conduct site visits of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Facilities in conjunction with The American Legion's "System Worth Saving" Program. The site visits are compiled into the "System Worth Saving" Publication which is submitted annually to the White House, Congress, VA officials and fellow legionnaires regarding the status of VA healthcare. Mr. Butler also provides veterans analysis, advocacy and training on all Veterans Health Administration (VHA) trends and policies.

Assistant Director for Healthcare National Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation Division The American Legion

Edward Lilley joined The American Legion in February of 2013. Ed served as a National Field Service Representative in the Health Policy Unit for the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division from May 2013 until January 2014. During this time, Edward assisted with multiple System Worth Saving site visits around the country. From January 2014 until May 2014, Edward served as the Senior Field Service Representative and was recently promoted to the Assistant Director for Healthcare in June 2014. His area of responsibility includes oversight of all Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation resolutions, as well as The American Legion’s Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) program.
Ed's military awards include: The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, The Navy Good Conduct Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Senior National Field Service RepresentativeNational Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation CommissionThe American Legion

Derrick Redd joined The American Legion in August of 2013. Derrick serves as a National Field Service Representative in the Health Policy and Planning Unit for the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division. Along with his service to the System Worth Saving program, his areas of responsibility includes Veterans Health Administration offices under Health for Policy and Services, which includes but is not limited to: Public Health, Health Information, Patient Care Services, Ethics in Healthcare, Research and Development, Readjustment Counseling Services, Health Information Governance and Business Intelligence.

Warren J. Goldstein joined The American Legion in January of 2011. Currently, Warren serves as Assistant Director for TBI and PTSD Programs. Prior to being the Assistant Director for TBI and PTSD Programs Warren served as Senior National Field Service Representative in the Health Policy Unit for the National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division..

The Veterans Benefits Center Committee has spent over a decade making VA site visits and issuing reports on the quality of care. This initiative gives The American Legion a unique ability to help restore VA for veterans.